ACCRINGTON Stanley have signed striker Paul Smyth on loan from Championship side Queens Park Rangers.

The 21-year-old goes straight into the squad for Saturday's FA Cup fourth round home tie with Derby County (12.30pm) and provides further competition in the attacking areas.

The Reds have already added Luke Armstrong to their forward armoury this month after he joined on loan from Middlesbrough to compete with Billy Kee and Offrande Zanzala.

And Smyth, who has made five appearances for QPR this season, is excited by the prospect of making his debut against the Rams.

“I have scored in the Championship and played Derby before so I know what they are all about if I play a part," he said.

“I am excited about being here. I spoke to goalkeeper Joe Lumley who was at Accrington a few years ago and he said he loved it here and that it was a good group of players.

“I have looked at how Accrington have done over the last few seasons and obviously they have come up and are doing well in League One this season and hopefully I can add to the success.

“It’s a chance for me to express myself and hopefully impress people.

“I am a striker or wideman, I am fast, small and I like to get in behind players. I love scoring goals but I am happy with assists as well."

Reds boss Coleman is hoping that former Linfield man Smyth, who found the net on his Northern Ireland debut against South Korea last year, will offer the Reds something different,

“We tried to sign Paul in the summer. He is a full international and I have watched him play for Northern Ireland and QPR," said Coleman.

“His agent is our former player Colin Murdock and he alerted us to Paul’s availability. He has a lot of pace which is something we need in our side.”